Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-16
OLD TIME POLITICS.
"REMINISCENCES OF SENATORS OF
THE WAR PERIOD.
The Border Adventures of Senator Rice
Wilkinson's Queer Experience at the Min
nesota Bar in the Pioneer Days-The Mel
snchely Close of Distinguished Careers.

nesOta Bar in the Pioneer Days-The Mel
snchely Close of Distinguished Careers.
or the senators representing the
twenty four States pending the Thirty
seventh Congress, as well as the
single representation of Tennessee
by Andrew johnson, the only two col
leagues serving together at that period,
who both survive, are ex-Senators Henry
M. Rice and Morton S. Wilkinson, of
Minnesota. Henry NJ. Rice and General
James Shields previously a senator from
Illinois and subsequently senator from
MissourD were the first senators chosen
from the "North Star" State, upon its
admission into the Union, May II, 1858,
as the nineteenth State additional to the
original thirteen, or the thirty-second
State in numerical order.
Mr.. Rice was chosen for the long term
commencing May 10, 1858, and ending
March 3, 1868, and General Shields for
the short term, commencing the same
date and ending March 8, 1859. 1t is re-
lated that when these senators drew
ballots for the long and short term, Gen
eral Shields was advised by somebody to
feel Cor the "thin" ballot, the terms
"long" and "short" having been written
on slips of paper. Whether or not he
complied with this suggestion was never
revealed, but certain it is General
Shields did draw the "thin" ballot, upon
which was written the words "short
term" This result, however, was en-
tirely satisfactory to the people of Min
nesota, for the reason that Mr.. Rice,
as contradistinguished from General
Shields, was an "old settler" who had
led the van of enterprise in the new Ter
ritory and served two terms as delegate
in Congress, while it was generally &C
cepted that General Shields, enjoying
eminent reputation as soldier and states
man, had resigned the governorship of
Oregon Territory, to which he had been
appointed by President Polk in 1S4S, and
located in Minnesota in search of wider
field for political preferment.
Henry M. Rice was born in Vermont
in 1916, and emigrated to Michigan when
it was Territory, subsequently remov-
ing successfully to the Territories of
Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota Like
his predecessor as delegate in Congress,
Henry Fl. Sibley, who was born in Michi-
gan Territory, Mr.. Rice never enjoyed
the privilege of voting for President
until Minnesota was admitted as State.
lie became early infatuated with life on
the frontier, and was exceedingly popu-
lar with the Indian tribes with whom he
traded, first independently, and after
ward as a member of the American Fur
Company, originally founded by John
Jacob Astor, and latterly controlled by
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., & Co., of ST. Louis,
and Ramsay Crooks, of New York city.
The early life and frontier experiences
of ex-senator Rice, were they compiled
for publication, would comprise thrill
ing epitome of daring deeds, chair
breadth 'scapes" and wonderful adven-
lures, almost without parallel, certainly
putting to shame the widest stories of
eral large fortunes, but he distributed his
wealth with lavish hand, assisting every
body who besought his aid, and never
turning his back upon the poor and
friendless. He was shrewd and bold
man of business, and foremost among
the Democratic senators of the bellum
period in voting men and money to carry
on the war for the Union and sustain the
administration of Abraham Lincoln.
He is now the treasurer of Ramsay
county at St. Paul, to which lucrative
position he has been repeatedly chosen
by common consent, evidencing the good
will of his fellow citizens without regard
of party.
Mr.. Rice's colleague, Morton s. Will
kinson, who succeeded General Shields,
was born in Onondaga county, N.
Y, in 1919, emigrating at the age of
eighteen to Illinois. He subsequently
returned to New York, studied and was
admitted to practice law, and settled in
Michigan in 1947. Upon the organiza-
ton of Minnesota Territory, he removed
to St. Paul, and was chosen to the first
Territorial Legislature. He held no other
office until elected senator as a Republi-
can, or rather an old line "Silver-gray"
Wing, his father, being an idolator Of
Henry Clay, having educated him in that
political faith.
1t was upon Senator Wilkinson's mo-
ton that Senator Jesse D. Bright, of
Indiana, was expelled upon charges or
suspicion of disloyalty, and many were
the threats of vengeance heaped upon him
on this account. In the first two years
of his senatorial service Immediately pre-
ceding the breaking out of the civil war
feeling ran high at Washington between
the senators and members represent
ing Southern and Northern States and
Senator Wilkinson was an especial
mark of hatred to various Southern
members, who looked upon him as an ex-
tremist, tinctured with the abolition SEN
timents taught by William Lloyd Garri-
son, Gerrit Smith, Wendell Phillips and
William III. Seward, Mr.. Wilkinson being
an ardent admirer and political follower
of Mr.. Seward.
Mr.. Wilkinson enjoyed quite practice
at the bar of Minnesota in the early days,
and many quaint stories are told of his
experiences before the first courts Of
that Territory. 1t is narrated that on
one occasion when trying case before
an ignorant justice of the peace he
bravely objected to the introduction of
= law book by his adversary upon the